What is the ETA?
The ETA, instead of being a question for when someone will arrive, is the Engineering Technology Academy. This is an accelerated program at Doherty Memorial High School that allows students to learn engineering in a way that connects with all their other core classes. The students are taught through practical situations and inter-subject learning.
Background:
The ETA started the planning phase in 2001 by combining the team members of the Engineering Pipeline and AVID Site team led by Ms. Maloney (at the time, the
assistant principal). The planning phase incorporated outside consultants, WPI, teachers, department heads, and administrators funded by two major grants, the Carnegie Institute and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The challenge was to create a small learning community that focused on preparing youth with the necessary skills for the 21st century work force. The main focus was to be on personalization, project based learning, integrated curriculum, common planning time, consistent expectations, and cooperative learning. The first students entered the ETA in 2002. Vocational status was granted in the year 2009, which in turn started the application process.
Teachers:
The ETA is honored to have such hard-working, dedicated teachers in its employ. They cooperate at each grade level, making sure students don't have multiple tests in one day, have too much homework or they will compare notes on teaching methods for each individual class. They all work together to give every student the best chance at an education.
Learning Fair:
Instead of science fairs, the ETA has "learning fairs". These are exhibitions of projects that students work on for an extended period of time. Learning fairs are times when students use their knowledge of Inventor software, workshop skills, and creativity, to show their comprehension of a topic. A student might build a car, a bridge, a robot, or a scale building. They then need to connect the project to all of their subjects and depict real world applications. The students then give a small presentation, before attending the learning fair. At the fair itself, parents, friends, and other students can all see the final products. It's a time for students to relax after over a month of work.
